Peters



(No Model.) 'Wl BATGHELOR.

SHOULDER BRAGB.

Patented June 17', 1884.

l No. 300,435.

)iM/@N UNTTED STATES PATnNT @ri-rca WARD BATOH'ELOB, 0F lVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SHOULDER-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,435, dated .Tune 17, 1884.

Application filed February 23, 1884.

T0 @ZZ whom 712,614/ concern:

Beit known that I, Wann karel-Innen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have in- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Braces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and-exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

Shoulder-braces lieretofofe used have consisted of combinations of straps or bands so arranged as, when adjusted, to draw the shoulders backward and retain them in their natr 5 ural position. `The muscles of the neck, shoulders, and back, being thus afforded an artiicial relief, become weakened through inactivity, and the continued use of an artificial support is found to be necessary.

My invent-ion has for its object the providing of an appliance for treating round shoulders 5 and it consists in the construction of front pieces of canvas, leather, or other suitable material, andproviding the same with pockets, or other means of attaching weights thereto, and with shoulder straps or bands so adjustably connected with the same as to admit of the proper adjustment of the weights, and to insure a perfect iit of the straps to the shoulders. By suspending the weight in front, and thus moving forward the position of the center of gravity, the wearer is required in supporting it to assume an upright position, drawing back the shoulders and upper portion of 35 the body.

In the accompanying drawings, F1gure l is a perspective front elevation of my shoulderbracing device, showing the manner of adjusting the same. Fig. 2 is a front viewot' one section of the front, showing the constructionv of the pockets, some of which are represented as lled, and others empty. Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view, partly in section, showing the mode oi' closing the pockets. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications, the weights being shown in Fig. 5 as attached to an ordinary vest-front. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of a section of one of the pockets, showing the construction of the flexible joint.

5o The front, made preferably of canvas, is di- (No model.)

vided into two sections, AA, each of which is provided with a series of parallel pockets, aa, having their entrances Z1 b at or near the adjoining edges of the sections, and extending diagonally downward across the sectional front pieces, to which they are attached, at an angle of from twenty to thirty degrees. Each of the series of pockets maybe made by plaiting and sewing securely to the front a single piece of canvas. The pockets are provided at intervals with flexible joints c c, made by folding or tucking.

After filling with shot, sand, or other heavy substance the entrances of the pockets are closed, and secured by means of the cords d d, passing through the eyelets e c, and tied or otherwise secured uponthe under side of the front piece, as shown. The two sections o' the front are adj ustably attached at their adj oining edges by means of the elastic bands ff and buckles g g. The shoulder straps or bands B B, attached to the upper extremity of either section of the front, and passing over the shoulders, are adjustably connected at the points h h by cross-bands E F, provided with buckles 'i i, thus permitting the adjustment of the weight-supporting straps to any desired position upon the shoulders. To the ends j ji of the shoulder-straps B B straps are secured,

which are intended to pass under the arms of the wearer, and attached to the front sections at the points L la by means of the buckles m m. The weight applied at first should be such as can be carried conveniently and without discomfort to the wearer. It may be gradually increased by iilling additional pockets, and it is evident that by the use of shoulder-braces of this kind the muscles of the neck Iand shoulders would become gradually strengthened.

The form of front sections and means of adjustin g the weights herein described I have found preferable, as by arranging the pockets as shown, and providing the same with dexible joints, the device may be perfectly adjusted to the body, and by attaching the edges of the sections by means of elastic bands the weights are secured in place without impeding the free movement of the body, or otherwise inconveniencin g the wearer.

I do not wish to confine myself to any par- IOO ticular combination or arrangement of shoull pending the same from the .body of a person,

der-straps or means of adjusting the Weights, as it is evident that either may be varied Without departing from my invention. The Weights may, if desired, be arranged either vertically or horizontally, or may be attached to an ordinary form of vest-front.

Having described my invention,WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. In a device for the treatment of round shoulders, the combination of a Weight or Weights With a support forthe same, arranged substantially as described, and a device for suspending the same from the neck and shoulders of the wearer, as set forth.

2. In a shoulder-bracing device, the combination of a series of diagonal Weighted pockets With a proper support for the same, substantially as described, and a means of susas described.

3. In a shoulder-bracing device, the combination of a series of Weighted pockets pro;

vided with iiexible joints c c with a proper 25 support, substantially as described, and a means of suspending the same from the ,shoulders of a person, as shown.

4. In a shoulder-bracing device, the combination of a series of detachable Weights With 3o v a support for the same, arranged substantially as described, and the means described of suspending the saine from the body of a person.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses'.

WARD BATOHELOR.

Witnesses:

F. H. HOUGH, M. I). CALLAN. 

